In developing countries, masses of people work in the informal sector. Small family businesses – farms, vegetable shops or a carpenter’s workshop – neither pay minimum wages, nor limit working hours. They do not offer social protection either. However, work in regular industries can be tough too. Unskilled workers, in particular, lack bargaining power. Trade unions are weak, and would benefit from coherent labour legislations, especially if it were enforced consistently. The UN Sustainable Development Goal of decent work makes sense. To achieve it, a lot must happen.
